Mail chute construction



Oct. 28, 17941. M. KATZ MAIL CHUTE CONSTRUCTION Filed Apnil 1o, 19:59

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I MAIL CHUTE CONSTRUCTION Filed April 10, 1939 3 Sheets-SheetB M. KATZ MAIL CHUTE CONSTRUCTION Oct. 28, 1941.

Filed April 10, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 g5 u a A R W Y A WU u M m WW A m M@ 2 l5 Acomprising the chute were atented c't. 28, 194i UNITED STATE MAIL' CHUTE co- NSTRUCTTON Martinxatz, New York, N. Y. Application April 1c, 1939, serial No. 267,010

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to mail chutes more -particularly used for conducting letters and other such matter from the upper levels to the lower levels of multiple story buildings.

vWhen buildings of this the rough structural work must later be nished off on the oors, ceilings and walls of said building. In assembling the chute, difficulties were encountered because the materials and parts for the most part brought to the point of installation and then installed part by part. This type of assembly was uneconomical and lengthy, requiring a large crew of skilled men for the work. y f

Recognizing the above faults, the present invention lseeks to provide the parts of which have been pre-assembled at the factory and which may be installed into a building after all structural and finishing work has been completed, no great degree of skill being required to install already assembled chute sections.

In carrying out the invention, it is contemplated during the construction of the building to incorporate structural members into the wall thereof and setting thimbles in the wells or openings in the floors at that time. It is then contemplated, when the building structure is completed, to install and support by means of said structural members, completely assembled chute sections, two for each floor height of the building.

The various details of construction herein disclosed, and the combination and arrangement of the parts also seek to provide a mail chute of p improved form.

With the above and other objects, features and advantages in mind, the invention comprising a structure such as illustrated, in exemplary form, in the accompanying drawings. The following detailed specification, based on these drawings,

of the upper framed retype are constructed, .fa

. taken on the respective lines 9--9,

lII---II of Figs. 1 and 8.

a mail chute structure,

`taken on the respective lines 5 5, 6-V6, land 1-1 of Figs. 1 and 4.

Fig. 8 is a sectional View similar to Fig. 4 and illustrating the intermediate portions of the mail chute, portions being broken away.`

Figs. 9, 10, and 11 are plan sectional views as Ill- IILl and Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a portion of trim molding used in the present structure.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary plan sectional view of an alternate form of construction, the point at which the section is taken being similar to that of Fig. 9.`

. Fig. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view of an alternate form of the letter-conducting channel.

Fig. 15 is'a fragmentary sectional view of still another form of letter channel and trim..

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, the rough building wall is shown at I5and l a rough floor at I6. In the construction of the .more clearly reveals the purposes of the invenbuilding a well through said floor and adjacent the wall I5 is provided as at Il. During the construction of the building there are arranged a pair of structural angles I8, vertically disposed and extending from a mid-point of` the well I1 of one oor I6 to a similar point of the rnekt upper oor. The angles I8 are tied to each vother as by means of a cross-strap I9 andarranged to be supported upon the top of the lower rough fioor. These angles may be bonded into the building structure in any suitable manner, it being desired, however, to provide the space 20 between` the wall I6 and the parallel legs of said angles. Each pair of angles so positioned may be connected to the next adjacent pair of kangles .above and below as by means of connecting straps 2|. Thus, during the construction of the building there is provided a pair of Aspaced angle structures running vertically through the ing, through the wells I1 at each floor, and extending for the height desired of the mail chute.

l At the oor I6 and at the time when the angles I8 are installed, there may be mounted on said angles as by means of straps 39 and 40, similar to the straps 28a pair of telescopically arranged thimbles or sleeve members respectively 4I,` 42. These thimbles may be extended or collapsed to suit` the thickness of the ,floor slab and the finished floor and ceiling and serve to keep clean and open the well, I1 during theconstruction of the building. y i k The wall structure I5 may know be finished by applying thereto a finishing portion 22 andthen a marble or other desirable facing 23, the finishing portion 22 and the marble facing terminating against the legs of the angles which are transverse to those parallel to the wall I5. The finished floor 24 and the finished ceiling 25 also may be applied. It is evident then that all portions of a building, structure and trim, may be in place before the chute structure herein contemplated, is installed. The letter-conducting channel is preferably comprised of the telescoping sections 26 and 21, the latter extending from a point just above the floor to a mid-point of the structure, as shown in Fig. 8, and the former extending from the last-mentioned point to meet with and telescopically engage the lower section of a similar arrangement at the floor above. There is thus provided a letter-conducting chan- 33 and the forwardly disposed leg of said angle. Where the wall trim is thicker than is usual, the structural angles I 8 may be made with deeper forwardly directed legs as shown in Fig. 13. These angles, designated I8a., are preferably of such depth as to obviate use of the molding trim 43. However, as shown, trim such as 43a may be used for the sake of appearance.

Resting upon each floor there may be provided a base member 44a extending across the front of the lower portion of the channel 21 and the upper telescoping portion of the channel 26. This base member may be suitably and fixedly held in position. In spaced relation with the top of said base member as shown in Fig. 1 and Figs. 4, 8,-and 10, there may be provided a cross-bar 45 iixedly connected to the upper portion of the nel having two telescopic members per flofor of Y the building.

These sections 26 and 21 are each tied to the angles I8 as by means of the strap 28 and the screws 29 engaged in sockets in said straps, the heads of the screws being counter-sunk in the web of said sections 26 and 21. The foregoing connection is preferably provided at the top of each of these sections where the screw heads may be covered over by the inserted telescoped portion of the next adjacent section. The channel sections may come to the point of installation with the straps assembled thereon, the gap 30 between vertically adjacent angles I8 being provided to facilitate positioning said straps behind the legs yof said angles.

As shown in the form illustrated in Figs. 4 to l1, the channels 26 are of an extruded form, being thus formed with side walls 3| extending forwardly from the rear wall 32 and with outwardly turned flange portions 33 at the outer ends of the side walls.

The sections 26 and 21 are also formed with inreaching ribs 34, longitudinally disposed and spaced a short distance from the outer ends of the side walls 3I At the floor level and adjacent thereto a cover plate 35 extending across the channel 26 is provided, said plate extending from the top of the section 26 down to a point at which the upper visible panel frame 36 terminates. The lower section 21 is provided with a similar but shorter plate 31 extending upwardly from the lower end of that section and terminating at the bottom end of the visible panel frame 38. To insure against catching of letters on the top of the plate 35, the plate 31 is inwardly directed and extends beyond said top.

The nished portion of the wall 22 and the marble facing 23 may vary in thickness for different installations and even on diierent floors o'f the same installation. It is evident then that a varying amount of the leg of the angles I8 will protrude beyond the outer surface of the marble facing. It is contemplated to cover this protruding portion of each angle as by means of a molding trim 43, shown in detail in Fig. 12 and in the Various sectional views of the drawings. This trim may have an extruded cross-section and formed with a web 44, an outer ange 45h, and a U-shaped portion 43a designed for engagement with the mentioned protruding portion of the structural angle I8. It is contemplated, therefore, to form this trim 43 to suit the requirements of a particular installation. It will be noted from Fig. 5, for instance, that the angles I8 have substantially equal legs and the trim 43 is employed for closing the gap between the channel flange channel member 21, and inwardly directed from top to bottom thereof as shown, to shed letters falling in the channel. This strap may be covered .from the front as by means of a locking bar 45a hingedly connected at 46 on one side of the structure, and carrying a lock 41 which is key-operated to engage or disengage the lock bolt 48 with or from the lug 49 xed with the cross-bar 45.

At the upper end of the structure, below the ceiling 25, the chute is provided with a head 5U, said head comprising a sheet 5I arranged across the letter channel at the front thereof and extending to engage the flanges 33 of said channel. In addition, there may be provided a covering member 52 for said head, said covering member being disposed against the ceiling 25 and held in place in any suitable manner.

There is thus provided between the base 44 and the cross-strap 45, an elongated open space exposing the interior of the channel and there is similarly provided an open space between the head 50 and said strap. Into these spaces and serving to close them, there may be inserted the respective framed panels 38 and 36.

These panels are similar in construction except for the lengths thereof and one of these, preferably the panel 38 may be provided with a letter drop 52a of any suitable construction. Each framed panel comprises a glass panel 53 having vertically extending lateral frame molding 54, the panel 36 being provided with a cross member 55 arranged to engage the top of the cross-strap 45 and the panel 38. The panel frame 38 is similarly provided at its upper end with a cross member 56 which is positioned below the cross member 45, and both of said cross members 55 and 56 are engageable by the locking bar 45a which thus serves to hold the panels in place in the chute.

The upper end of the panel 36 is formed with a cross-bar 51 which may be caught under the head 56, and the panel 38 is similarly provided with a cross-bar 58 which is caught back of the upper portion of the base member 44. The frame moldings 54 of both panels are arranged to engage against the inreaching ribs 34 of the channel, and thus serve to position said panels in the chute.

It is evident from the above that should access to the chute be desired, the locking bar 45a may be unlocked, and swung on its hinge 46," to expose the cross-bars 55 and 56 of the respective upper and lower panels so that said panels may be removed from the chute.

It will be noted that each of the chute members 26 and V21 may be completely assembled at the factory and brought to the point of installation intact. The cross-straps 28 carried by said chutes may be slipped between the adjoining ends `of the structural angles I8 at 30 and the sections dropped into place and locked by manipulation It is then only necessary to adjust the head piece 52 to contact the ceiling 25, slip the panels 3S and 38 into place and lock the cross-bar 45. The chute is then ready for The channels '26 and 21 have been described as having an extruded cross-section. It is possible to form these channels on a break machine. A structure formed in this manner is shown at Fig. 14, where the inreaching ribs 59, the counterpart of the ribs 34, are formed by reentrantly bending the sheetmetal from which the chute is formed. The side flanges 60' may comprise either the angles as shown or may be integrally formed anges. In either respects, the sheet metal channel thus formed may resemble the one previously described.

As shown in Fig. 15, the channel 26 may .be f

made on a break machine and in order to beautify the exposed portions thereof, extruded moldings such as 43h may be mounted on the flanges 33a of said channel, said moldings each being .l

formed with the rib 34a, the counterparts of the ribs 34 and 59.

It is evident from the foregoing that a desirable structure for the purpose intended has been provided and represents an improvement over prior structures particularly in the facile manner with which it may be assembled. However, it is not intended to limit the invention as hereinafter claimed by the instant showing since many changes in the details and arrangement may be angles and having outwardly extending flanged portions in spaced relation with each respective outwardly directed angle leg, and a moulding trim member filling the space between each said angle leg and its respective flanged portion of the letter channel, said moulding trim having a U-shaped portion to embrace its respective angle leg, and an angled portion for abutting engagement against the rear surface of said flanged portion of the letter channel.

2-. In a mail chute, a pair of spaced structural angles each having a leg directed outwardly from the wall on which said angles are mounted, a letter channel disposed .between said angles and having outwardly extending flanges forward of said outwardly directed angle legs, and a moulding trim having a U-shaped portion embracing the outwardly directed angle leg and having an angled portion in contact with the respective ange of the letter channel.

3. In combination with the wall of a building structure a pair of spaced vertically disposed structural angles, means for securing said angles in spaced relation to said wall, each angle having one leg directed outwardly from rsaid wall, a letter channel disposed between said angles, said letter channel comprising a rear wall, side walls extending forwardly therefrom and terminating in laterally outwardly directed flanges, inreaching ribs on the side walls spaced from the outer edges thereof, removable panels that close the letter channel at the front, said panels tting within the connes of the -channels walls and against the inreaching ribs thereon, a moulding trim arranged to fill the space between each flange of the letter channel and the outwardly directed leg of its respective angle, said trim having a U-shaped portion to embrace`its respective angle leg and an angled portion for abutting engagement against the rear surface of the flange of the letter channel.

MARTIN KATZ. 

